Mary Maguire, managing director of Astute Recruitment, said: “The end of the energy cap scheme will seriously impact businesses and charities alike. For many businesses and charities, fiscal prudence at the current time will prove catastrophic.”
To help these charities and all affected businesses, Miss Maguire said it could be better to have a fixed price for energy for a fixed time.
She explained: “The Government could call it the ‘Triple-Fix’ supporting businesses, charities and people. Without this support, many organisations will be like wind turbines with no wind, generating nothing.”
Mr Arthur said: “Businesses who are struggling with their energy bills should be aware of their contract end date and review the terms of any new deal before signing. If they have concerns that they aren’t getting the right level of discount or support, they should speak with their supplier.
“Firms should also be looking at how they can make their operations more energy efficient to mitigate against price rises as much as possible.”
Mike Elliff, CEO of Tyl by NatWest suggested starting with small and simple steps, such as switching to automated and LED lighting from traditional incandescent bulbs and switching off equipment when not in use. He said it can conserve energy and deliver cost savings of up to 80 percent.
Mr Elliff told Express.co.uk: “Completing regular energy audits and using a smart meter to review energy usage can help small businesses identify spikes in energy use. NatWest’s Carbon Planner is a useful tool available to help inform energy-saving decisions.